Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose or white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• Cinnamon and sugar, for rolling
• 1/2 cup butter, for dipping

Instructions

1. If using a babycakes donut maker, turn it on to preheat. Otherwise, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a donut pan or regular cookie sheet.
2. In the bowl of your stand mixer, mix together the dry ingredients.
3. Beat in the pumpkin, eggs, milk, and butter until well combined.
4. Fit a pastry bag with a large tip and fill with the donut batter. Alternately, fill a large ziploc bag and snip off the end.
5. Pipe into the donut maker, donut pan, or just pipe in circles on a greased cookie sheet. The dough is thick enough that it should stay in the general shape you pipe it in while in the oven.
6. If using the donut maker, cook for about 3-5 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick.
7. If using the oven, bake for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
8. Cool on a wire rack.
9. Melt the 1/2 cup of butter in a small dish and mix together cinnamon and sugar in a second dish for dipping.
10. Dip the donuts in the butter and then the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
11. Store in an air-tight container.
12. From : http://bunsinmyoven.com/2011/09/13/pumpkin-donuts-and-a-thank-you/

Easy and fun!

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I don’t know the source- but I would love to create a whole series… needle point… making a come back!

1. Chevron Invitations & Tags – The TomKat Studio
2. I’m Sew Very Happy Print – CRAFT
3. Kokeshi Doll Recipe Cards – Creative Mamma
4. Vintage Round Labels – Cathe Holden
5. Summer Fruit Labels & Tags – Creature Comforts
6. Gingham Set for School – Bird’s Party
7. Whatever Is Printable – Arian Armstrong
8. Vintage Shell Clip Art – Martha Stewart
9. Beautiful Thank You Cards – Do-It-Yourself Invitations
10. Toy Bin Storage Tags – Lily Jane
11. Vintage Music Sheets – Crafty Secrets
12. Star Trek Paper Dolls – Paper Thin Personas
13. Lavender Wrapping Bands – Daily Suze
14. Canning Party Printables – Cottage Industrial
15. Star Wars Tags & Stickers – Living Locurto
16. Vintage Inspired Placemats – The Pretty Blog
17. Turquoise & Red Banner Invitations – HGTV
18. Recycling Bin Labels – Poppytalk
19. I Love Us Print – Eighteen25
20. Mama’s Gonna Snap Poster – MaryJane and Galoshes
21. Hello Lover Camera Print – Missie Krissie
22. Vintage Thread Labels – Just Something I Made
23. Vintage Envelopes – Fuzzimo
24. Love Notes Box Printables – Eighteen25
25. Yummy Cupcake Topper – Paperglitter
26. Baby Shower Printables – Fresh Linen
27. Gift Pillow Box – Up Up, The Blog
28. Build Your Own Cupcake – Vol. 25
29. Vintage Campers – The Handmade Home
30. Yellow & Grey Baby Shower Printables – Bump Smitten
31. Vintage Horses Art Print – The Graphic Fairy
32. Ledger Printables – Mel Stampz
33. Carpe Diem Print – Snickerdoodle
34. Bunting Thank You Card – 74 Lime Lane
35. Lemonade Printables – I Do It Yourself
36. Travel Games – Free Puzzles
37. Don’t Do That Thing Print – Hello, Good Gravy!
38. Ice Cream Sundae Bar Printables – Eat Drink Chic
39. Hello Kitty Birthday Kit – Shery K Designs
40. What Brings You Joy Print – Fresh Picked Whimsy
41. Pastel Party Invitation – HGTV
42. Chevron Candy Pouch & Tags – I Still Love You
43. Vintage Postage Stamps – Just Something I Made
44. Skidamarink Print – Vintage Dutch Girl
45. Creative Gift Tags – Art by Julie H
46. ABC Print – Live & Enliven
47. Go Fish Game – Meet the Dubiens
48. Weekly Planner – Arian Armstrong
49. Pretty Frame Templates – See Jane Scrapbook
50. Make A Wish Birthday Printables – Eighteen25
51. Photobooth Props – Oh Happy Day
52. Polka Dot Gift Tags – Hello, Good Gravy!
53. Vintage Post Card Images – Fuzzimo
54. Get Well Tags – Just Something I Made
55. Made Just For You Tags – I Still Love You
56. Look At The Stars… – Sprik Space
57. Bird Printables – Rebecca’s Misc.
58. Rise & Shine Print plus more – Inspired by Charm
59. Mailing Label & Tag – The Nimbus Factory
60. Hello Lover Sewing Machine Print – Missie Krissie
61. Floral Party Invitation – HGTV
62. Happiness Is A Warm Glue Gun Print – Man Made
63. Pinwheel Cupcake Topper – The Long Thread
64. Airmail Thank You Notes – Jessica Jones Design
65. Miss You Card – Vale Design
66. Hospital Survival Kit – My Own Road
67. Vintage Sweet Shop Baby Shower – Hostess with the Mostess
68. Save the Date Printables – The Pretty Blog
69. Let Your Dreams Set Sail Print – Sprik Space
70. Prayer Changes Everything Print & More – A Step In The Journey
71. Love Is All You Need Print – Inspired by Charm
72. You Get What You Get Print & More – Becky Higgins
73. Do What You Love Print – How Joyful
74. Super Moo Cards – Oh My Handmade
75. Gift Wrapping Set – Poppytalk
76. Will We Have Rainbows Print – Making It Lovely
77. Rule The World Print – Thirty Handmade Days
78. Land of the Free Print – I Heart Nap Time
79. Hearts Card – The Green Gal
80. Yellow Lattice Invitations – Easton Place {HGTV}
81. Don’t Worry Be Happy Print – Live & Enliven
82. Botanical Print – The Graphics Fairy
83. Party Journaling Cards – Creativity Prompt
84. DIY Envelope Liners – Ellinee
85. Family Subway Art – My Own Road
86. Believe You Can Print – It’s A Crafty Life
87. Lots-O-Dots – Allsorts
88. Vintage Alphabet Cards – The Handmade Home
89. Animal Note Sheet – Creature Comforts
90. Beautiful Thank You Cards – The Pretty Blog
91. Do The Impossible… – Thirty Handmade Days
92. Sweet Tweets Treat Topper – It Is What It Is
93. Those Who Bring Sunshine Print – Collected
94. Floral Happy Birthday Card – HeySusy
95. Awesome Bookplates – Frecklewonder
96. Gift Tag & Bookmark – Simply Modern Mom
97. Passport & Luggage Tag Printables – The Pretty Blog
98. Red Coral Printables – The Graphics Fairy
99. Measure Twice, Cut Once – Yellow Songbird
100. Fox Bookmark – Lemon Squeezy
101. I Love You To The Moon Print – Sprik Space

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian spices
• 1 teaspoon salt
• black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons water

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender on high until combined, about 30 seconds.
2. Pour into small bowl and cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Stir before serving.
4. **Don’t forget, add your 2 prepared recipes of Italian Dressing (I used Hidden Valley Brand) to this.  It makes a ton of dressing.

From  the blog http://suzannezick.wordpress.com/

Love this from Etsy Store  Pinwheel Designs

And this one…

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place chopped Snickers Bars into a bowl, set aside for now. Place graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter into a mixing bowl to combine. Spoon a couple spoonfuls of crumbs into each section of the muffin pan and press down and up the sides. Bake for 5-6 minutes or just until browned. Remove from oven.
In a stand or electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add in eggs and vanilla until well combined, scraping sides of bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in caramel sauce until well combined. Pour about 1/4 c. of cheesecake mixture over each baked crust then top evenly with chopped Snickers. Bake for 23-26 minutes or until cheesecake edges are just starting to brown and centers are nearly set. Remove and let cool completely. While still warm, loosen all edges with a plastic knife to make for easier removal from pan. Refrigerate once cooled then top with caramel sauce and whipped cream to serve!

12 individual cheesecakes

Source: http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/mini-snickers-caramel-cheesecakes.html

This Monthly Award is
“For the woman who takes risks, feels the fear, but does it anyway”

Ash Ambirge is the owner of The Middle Finger Project
Her Website and consulting business is about guts.
The guts to live up to your potential
The guts to do work that matters
And the guts to get out there & create something you’re proud to call your own

Website http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/
FaceBook The Middle Finger Project

Here is the story of Ash’s Courage

Ash has been an incredible inspiration for me starting my own graphic design business. Her blog weekly delivers a strong kick in the butt to do my best work, quit whining and  stay dedicated fully to ultimately live the life I have always dreamed of -

1. Do you remember the moment you decided to take the leap into owning your own business? How did it feel and what was it that made you take the leap?

Well, the first time I went into entrepreneurship was in 2006 after I quit my job in marketing – a decision I made primarily because I realized at a young age the precious value of life and its fleeting tendencies, and I couldn’t stand to spend my life doing something I wasn’t 100% engaged with. In a way, it was selfish of me, and it still is. But then again, they say that the best entrepreneurs have a bit of healthy arrogance. :)  Anyway, at the time, I felt naively confident, and just certain that the universe would reciprocate. Turns out, I was overly confident, and I ended up broke and had to return to 9-5.

The second time I started my business, it just grew organically without my trying. I intended on just starting a side business, but ultimately I was so successful with it that I transitioned into full-time. That’s probably what I’d recommend to anyone thinking about going into business for themselves right now.

2. How long have you been living your dream now?

I suppose this is over 2 years now – fully – where I’m location independent and working solely from my laptop. :)

3. Do you have any regrets? what has been the hardest part of taking the leap?

I really can’t say that I do, Kim. There are days you want to pull your hair out, because you aren’t just doing copywriting, for example, but you’re also playing secretary and project manager and accountant everything in between. It can get nutsy! But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

The hardest part has probably been just that – learning to prioritize and not get overwhelmed. I think overwhelm is, by far, the greatest thing you deal with. There are days when I just leave my inbox shut because I won’t be able to get any work done if I’m constantly in a reactive state….instead of a proactive one.  Responding rather than producing.  I want to produce, baby.

4. What part of taking this leap are you most proud of?

Making wayyyyy more money than I ever did in my 9-5. :) :) :) And leaving for France, Spain and Italy in a couple of days – the lifestyle I have now is something I only could have ever dreamed of as a young teenager and college student. I can’t even believe it’s real sometimes.

5. What is the best advise you have been given so far?

If you’re going to do something, you better damn well give it your all. If I take on a project, I commit to giving it my all – that means undivided attention, and a very conscious state of mind where I envision their company being my company, and try to care about it at that level, and then do good work that reflects that state of mind. This serves me in multiple ways, but namely: 1) The client is beyond happy with your work 2) The client then refers other people to you and you have a constant stream of leads 3) I feel incredibly good about myself when I know I’ve done good work – and didn’t just slack off.

Good work is where it’s at!